Return of the Pumpking

950-Pound Pumpkin to be Fork Lifted into the Boston Public Market

On Monday, October 16^th at 12:00 p.m., the Boston Public Market will unveil the third annual “Official Pumpkin of Boston,” weighing in at an impressive 950 pounds. Thanks to a generous donation from Market vendor, Red Apple Farm of Phillipston, Massachusetts and their friends and fellow farmers Lou and Sue Chadwich of Greenfield, Massachusetts the Boston Public Market will be the lucky home of this giant “Pumpking” throughout the fall season. The Pumpking will also be joined by a 575 pound pumpkin, courtesy of farmer Tom Brouillet, of Phillipston.

The nearly half-ton pumpkins will arrive just in time for the Boston Public Market’s second annual Harvest Party on Thursday, October 19, where they will serve as a backdrop for the evening’s festive photo booth. With 800 attendees in its inaugural year, the Harvest Party is a celebratory fundraising event for friends and fans of the city’s local food marketplace to savor and sip the best of New England, explore the Market’s more than 35 local vendor stalls, and enjoy live music from Berklee College of Music bands, all while supporting the Boston Public Market Association’s mission-driven work. New to this year’s Harvest Party is a drawing for two $500 in-Market shopping sprees. Once selected, two lucky Harvest Party attendees will have 30 minutes to shop their way through the BPM, grabbing local lobster, wine, lilies, donuts, produce and more, up to a $500 value. The Boston Public Market will even cover winners’ rides home with their haul of local loot!

Market guests and spectators can watch the unveiling and unloading of the pumpkins into the Market, participate in a pumpkin naming contest (pumpkins from the Market’s first two years in operation were affectionately nam
ed “Gourdo” and “Big Papi”), and snap and share photos with the new pumpkins using the hashtag #BPMpumpking on social media. The colossal pumpkins will be on display in the southeast corner of the Market near BPM vendors, Bon Me and Jennifer Lee’s Gourmet Bakery, throughout the fall. Pumpking fans can follow the pumpkin’s journey to the Market on Twitter at @BPMpumpking.

In addition to the giant pumpkin’s debut, the Boston Public Market will celebrate the season with Pumpkin Fest in The KITCHEN on Saturday, October 28:

• Pumpkin Fest in The KITCHEN (Saturday, October 28, 12:30-2:00 or 2:30-4:00 p.m., Boston Public Market’s The KITCHEN, $5 entry/$15 pumpkin carving): An opportunity for hands-on pumpkin carving, and a chance to sample the best pumpkin foods and beverages from Boston Public Market vendors: pumpkin pie from Siena Farms, pumpkin beer and cider from Hopsters Alley, pumpkin wine from MA Wine Shop, pumpkin chocolate from Taza Chocolate, allergen-free pumpkin donuts from Jennifer Lee’s Bakery, and pumpkin ice cream from Crescent Ridge Dairy. Purchase your tickets here.